Auburn Football: Nick Marshall Sets Conference Rushing Mark for Quarterbacks

Nick Marshall ran for 140 yards against Ole Miss Saturday night. That performance is the most rushing yards in a game by any SEC quarterback this season, according to the official Twitter account for Auburn Football.

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Nick Marshall's 140 rushing yards are the most by an SEC quarterback this season

— Auburn Football (@FootballAU) October 6, 2013

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Currently, Mississippi State's Dak Prescott is the league's leading rusher among quarterbacks with 318 yards, averaging 6.5 yards per carry with six touchdowns. Johnny Manziel is second on the list with 314 yards and three rushing touchdowns, but Marshall's running against the Rebels closed the gap—he now has 288 rushing yards in 2013. Marshall was previously averaging just 37 yards rushing per game, with a high of 53 against Arkansas State. His two rushing touchdowns against Ole Miss were the junior's first of the season.

Marshall attributed his remarkable performance to sound preparation.

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I really knew what was coming a majority of the time because I watched film with Coach. I was prepared for what they had coming. They like to crash the ends a lot and blitz, and I was able to keep it for good yards.

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Marshall likely would have posted a greater total if not for tweaking his knee in the second half. He wasn't the same run threat after the injury, and his noticeable limp caused Tiger fans considerable concern, but Marshall later said there is nothing to worry about, saying, "I'm a little banged-up, but it's not nothing. I'll be in treatment tomorrow and feeling better."

Fortunately for Auburn, their next game is against Western Carolina. They will likely ask little from Marshall against the Catamounts, allowing him to rest up for the Tigers Oct. 19 contest with Texas A&M at College Station.

Josh Dowdy is a contributor to Bleacher Report and the author of  Orange Is Our Color: The Tuberville Years through Navy-tinted Glasses.